Paul Smith’s athletes honored

PAUL SMITHS – The postseason accolades are rolling in for the Paul Smith’s College fall sports athletes.

Six soccer players, a cross country runner and a volleyball player were named as All-Americans after turning in strong seasons for the Bobcats this fall. Twenty-seven athletes were recognized for their academic success.

“It is a great honor to work with such fine young people on the Paul Smith’s College campus,” said Paul Smith’s athletic director and cross country coach Jim Tucker. “They make our jobs on the campus a great deal of fun in and out of the classroom, and on the road.”

Steve Rathbun, a senior soccer player, and freshman cross country runner Chloe Mattilio were honored with first team All-American status.

Rathbun became the first-ever Paul Smith’s student to be named first team All-American in men’s soccer after scoring 15 goals and dishing out four assists to lead the Bobcats.

The Paul Smith’s men’s soccer team finished with an 11-2 record, losing in the Yankee Small Conference semifinals 4-1 against University of Maine-Machias. The Bobcats’ only other loss came against NHTI, 2-1, on Sept. 22.

Mattilio recently wrapped up her initial collegiate campaign with a fourth-place finish in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association meet held at Drumlins Country Club in Syracuse. The Lancaster, Pa. native finished the 6-kilometer race in 24:34.2.

Mattilio was also crowned as the conference champion after outrunning the YSCC field in October.

Landry, a sophomore from Mohawk, was named to the second team after racking up 15 goals and six assists. Last year, Landry was named as a first team All-American, the first soccer player in school history to earn the distinction.

Kruppenbacher, a junior captain from Charlton, was named as an honorable mention All-American.

The PSC women beat University of Maine-Machias in a dramatic shootout in the conference championship game to earn a spot in the USCAA national tournament in Charleston, W.Va. The Bobcats dropped both their USCAA tournament games to finish with a 10-5 overall record.

Alex Roache and Ryan Little were named as second team All-Americans, while teammate Taylor Young earned honorable mention for the men’s soccer team.

Roache, a junior from Hanson, Mass., played midfield for the Bobcats, while Little, a sophomore from Fairport, held down the goalkeeper position. Young, of Brookeville, Md., played defense.

The Paul Smith’s men’s team finished with an 11-2 overall record and lost in the YSCC semifinals against Machias. Their only other loss came Sept. 22 with a 2-1 overtime defeat against NHTI.

Laine Sullivan, a senior volleyball player, was named as an All-American after helping her team to a breakout season. Her coach Christina Carpenter was named as coach of the year in the YSCC after leading the Bobcats to an 8-12 record.

The Paul Smith’s rugby team rounded out a strong fall sports season for the school. The Bobcats’ ruggers advanced all the way to the championship match of the New York State Rugby Conference before falling 20-15 to Union on Nov. 3 in Syracuse.